Park Jung-min Faces Bengal Tiger Richard Parker: The Stage Villain Needs More Stories
Creatrip Team
3 months ago
Actor Park Jung-min returns to the stage in a Korean-language production of Life of Pi, playing Pi opposite a puppet Bengal tiger, Richard Parker. The show, licensed from the original West End production, uses three puppeteers to animate a 15kg foam tiger (percussion-style puppet) and blends sound, video, and physical performance to create a convincing presence. The play presents two versions of Pi’s survival story—one with the tiger as an external antagonist and one where animals map onto humans, making the tiger a reflection of Pi’s inner self and human violence. By asking the audience which story they prefer, the production probes belief, memory, and how storytelling helps people endure cruelty and fear. The creative team calls the staging "Live on Stage," and the run continues through March 2 next year.
